Tax visits begin April 17

Delinquent Berrien businesses to be sought out by county.

Delinquent Berrien businesses to be sought out by county.

April 08, 2006|JEFF ROMIG Tribune Staff Writer

ST. JOSEPH -- In less than 10 days, tax delinquent business owners in Berrien County will be hearing the knock, knock, knock of the tax man at their door. Beginning April 17, county treasurer Bret Witkowski will be sending a representative from his office and from the county assessor's office door-to-door as a last-ditch effort to recoup more than $1.5 million in personal property taxes owed by county businesses. Delinquent businesses will have two payment options: Pay on the spot with cash or personal check or set up a payment plan with the county. Witkowski said on the payment plan, six months will be allotted for each year's worth of delinquent taxes. The other option is not pay and the assessor's representative will calculate the equal worth of equipment which could be foreclosed upon. "That would be the worst case," Witkowski said. The process will begin in the city of St. Joseph, which Witkowski estimated could take a week before moving to Benton Township, which he said could take three weeks. From there, Witkowski said they'd continue to move across the county, through all cities, villages and townships where businesses owe taxes. "It may take until the end of the year," Witkowski said. The x-factor is that they don't know how many businesses can be seen in a day. "My goal is 10 a day," Witkowski said. Since Aug. 31, the treasurer's office has collected $259,273 in delinquent taxes and more than $80,000 in interest and penalties, which funds the collection program. Most of that money came in during September and October when amnesty from interest and penalties was offered to entities who paid their delinquent taxes. Witkowski said because of that amnesty program almost $125,000 in taxes were distributed to the county school districts. "This is money they would have never gotten," Witkowski said. Staff writer Jeff Romig: jromig@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7001